February 10, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 51, 65, 142
Genesis 27:46-28:4, 10-22
Romans 13:1-14
John 8:33-47

II. Selections
Psalm 51:1
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.

Genesis 27:46
Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am weary of my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women such as these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?"

Romans 13:8
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

John 8:34
Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.

III. Meditation: What if he marries one?
Rebekah told her husband she was weary of life;
the Hittite women took all the joy out of living.
What if her son were to marry one?

In today's terms, Rebekah was prejudiced.
She was not alone.
Which of us does not suffer some degree of prejudice?

St. Paul advises us to love one another-
and fulfill the law.
That would rid us of prejudice, except we don't do it well.

We try; much of the time we try hard.
But mostly we fail.
We find ourselves slaves to sin.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.